Hi Guys

 

I want to discuss the bone formation of a fetus. There are many links out there describing what happens to the major organs/features on a week to week basis but there is little info out there for us laymen which describes bone/musculoskeletal formation on a week to week basis. Is is possible if someone could dwell into this? It would be nice to know..

Do you mean Embryo or specifically fetus?

 

Though not entirely relevant to today's anatomical and physiological knowledge, Gray's anatomy does provide a pretty comprehensive overview of Embryology. I don't know how much he gets into the muscular-skeletal system formation.

 

http://www.bartleby.com/107/2.html

 

Wiki is pretty good as well..

 

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prenatal_development

 

I'll see what else I can locate for you.

 

Cheers,

Hi Syntho-sis,

 

I am interested in both stages of the development (embryo & fetal).

 

Thanks for the links. The former doesnt really go into muscular-skeletal formation and the wiki article only mentions the following:

 

Weeks 13-16

More muscle tissue and bones have developed, and the bones become harder

 

I have a question, since some muscle groups are attached directly to the bone, which of the two is formed first? The muscle or the bone or do both form parallel to one another?

Hi Syntho-sis,

 

I am interested in both stages of the development (embryo & fetal).

 

Thanks for the links. The former doesnt really go into muscular-skeletal formation and the wiki article only mentions the following:

 

 

 

I have a question, since some muscle groups are attached directly to the bone, which of the two is formed first? The muscle or the bone or do both form parallel to one another?

 

http://www.sdbonline.org/index.php?option=content&task=view&id=23

 

http://wiki.medpedia.com/Skeletal_System#Bone_development

 

http://www.uen.org/Lessonplan/preview.cgi?LPid=4016

 

For this one look under the right hand column that says Prenatel Development: Articles

 

There are tons of resources there that should be useful for you.

 

Also, if I'm not mistaken development of the muscles and bones begins intermittently depending on the structures. The heart is one of the structures that form first, and then various bones that make up the spinal column. As far as what you are referring to (Skeletal muscle), I would imagine that bones form originally because they are the support system for the other organs and structures (Every article I've found so far basically just says 'bones and muscles begin to develop.') There should be something within these websites, if I find anything else I'll let you know.

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Also maybe Google 'prenatal osteogenesis' or something like that and see what you can locate.

 

Cheers,

I would focus on understanding the three main bone forming cells.

 

Osteocytes

Osteoblasts

Osteoclasts

 

Then if you need to dig deeper, I would determine the cells from which they arise.

 

If you are looking for information on how they develop then I would look into the Homeotic genes or HOX genes. But then this is developmental biology....

 

I hope this puts you on a good path!

It's all in the connective tissues.

 

A limb bud is initially just a mass of connective tissue. Some of that tissue turns into cartilage (then bone), other connective tissue is colonized by myocytes and becomes muscles. But the connective tissue is where it all begins.